If you don't flush your tampons down the loo, how do you dispose of them?

[DumbledoresGirl]

OK right away, I know I am in ethical living and you are all going to shout MOONCUPS!!! at me, but I am not going down that route, ok?

So, this is the problem: I have read a lot recently about how we should not flush tampons down the loo. Also, we have seriously dodgy drains and dh has often had to poke around at them with a stick and once fished out a whole load of tampons that has got tangled together in our drains so I know they are a problem. But I am quite a green person and want to do what is right ethically anyway.

So, I have started tring not to flush my tampons down the loo (sometimes they go that way because it is an automatic reaction) but I am not really sure how to dispose of them discreetly. Towels always get wrapped up in the next towels' plastic wrapper, but what do you do with tampons? I have been wrapping them in a bit of loo paper. Are there any other ways of disposing of them discreetly? And what bin do you use for the purpose?

'Cause I suspect not, which is what is holding me back. '

I don't know about most people but when I started using a mooncup my periods became much lighter.

Was going to manetion Mirena expat. I haven't had a period since 2004.

People's houses... aaagghhh. I went to a new friend's house for coffee and went to the loo. There was a huge sign saying, "Please do not flush ANYTHING, including loo roll, down this loo. If you need a poo, please go upstairs." Imagine the SHAME of being seen to slink out of that loo and into the other one.

re: towels/tampons when at people's houses: I smuggle them out in my handbag/sponge bag (handy plastic bag carried at all times) and then dispose when the coast is clear.

What we women have to suffer.

My greengrocer always gives me a load of small brown bags when i see him. Once he charged me 50p for about 100 of them. I use those and put tampax in the bin.

I use them instead of nappy bags too. Well, when at home.

Must try a mooncup soon. Have been keen to for ages, but bit concerned about the ins and outs of it when in public etc.

I thought everyone flushed Tampons down the loo, thought that was the benefit of them.

This thread has opened my eyes.

I do have a mooncup but we are not getting on at the minute.

it takes a few cycles to get the hang of the mooncup, IME. but well worth it.

i stopped getting cramps and flow decreased within months of getting one.

But why would that be Expat? Surely what you use to collect blood can't affect how much you bleed?

i have no idea, DG, but i know from past mooncup threads on here that i'm not the only one this has happened to.

again, i've no idea why, but hey, bonus!

I am amazed people do still flush tampons too! I've been wrapping mine and binning them for many years! They just go in the bathroom bin, then out with the rubbish. The children never look near what's in the bin. I'm not ready to go down the mooncup route either.

Oh dear, I did not realise my admission would be greeted with shock. Sorry folks. At least I am trying to make amends in the autumn of my menstral years.

The tampons draw out anything moisture-based making periods seem much heavier. With a mooncup you just lose what you are meant to. same with cramps - if you are being sucked and dried out, it will hurt a hell of a lot more.

loo roll or paper bag in bin though.

Instead are not reusable or biodegradable, but they ARE better for your insides with the whole drying thing than tampons, and are a hell of a lot easier to use than Mooncups.

Oh the joy of the mooncup and avoiding this disgusting dilemma. So neat. So ethical. So reliable. Yes am smug about it but honestly not sure I have ever had a product I have been so impressed with which is both greener and BETTER than the alternative.

So reduced flow is a known result of using a mooncup? Really? Have most people found that?

No I haven't noticed reduced flow or less pain with a mooncup.

Yes, MUCH less flow and much less discomfort. A great added bonus IMO